Is God One? Five Scriptures in Their Own Words

“Is God one?” is among the oldest questions people ask about faith, and each of the great monotheistic Traditions answers it in its own scripture. Here are five of those answers, quoted as they are written, with a link to each verse in its original language. We add no commentary of our own: the verses speak for themselves.

Hinduism: the Rig Veda

The Rig Veda is the oldest of the Vedas. This verse comes from a hymn to the All-Gods (Vishvedevas):

“To what is One, sages give many a title.”

— Rig Veda 1.164.46 (read the verse)

Judaism: the Torah

Moses speaks to the people of Israel before they enter the land. Jews recite these words every day as the Shema:

“Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

— Deuteronomy 6:4–5 (read the verses)

Christianity: the Gospels

Asked which commandment is the first of all, Jesus answers by quoting the Shema:

“Jesus answered, ‘The greatest is: “Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”’”

— Mark 12:29 (read the verse)

Islam: the Qur’an

Surah Al-Ikhlas is one of the shortest chapters of the Qur’an, and is often described as a summary of the oneness of God:

“Say: He is the One God. The Absolute God. He does not beget, nor is He begotten. And none equals Him.”

— Qur’an 112:1–4 (read the verses)

Sikhism: the Guru Granth Sahib

The Guru Granth Sahib opens with the Mul Mantar, composed by Guru Nanak. It begins with ੴ, Ik Onkar, often rendered “One God”:

“There is but one God whose name is true, the Creator, devoid of fear and enmity, immortal, unborn, self-existent; by the favour of the Guru.”

— Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1 (read the verse)

Side by side

Placing these verses together does not mean the Traditions teach the same things in every respect, and we do not rank one above another. Each is presented under its own name and in its own words.

To read them side by side in their original languages (Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, Arabic and Gurmukhi), see the Comparison on The One God. For verses that speak of the one God, the Hereafter and a righteous life together, see The Message.

Translations: Ralph T. H. Griffith (1896), the JPS Tanakh (1917), the World English Bible, One God One Message’s own translation of the Qur’an, and Max Arthur Macauliffe (1909). Sources and licenses are listed on each verse’s page.